Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M8931

The Originator

The Originator
CultureHigh supportChinese Philosophy
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Confucius abhorred the use of human-like clay figurines in burials, as it could lead to the revival of live human sacrifice. "The originator of the clay figurines—may he have no descendants!"

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Pandora's box / bad precedent. In organizations, it is strictly forbidden to set a precedent of "even a little evil" (such as a single instance of data fabrication or a single instance of vicious internal competition). Once such a precedent is set (making the figurine), the baseline will sink without limit.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Once a bad precedent is set (making the figurine), subsequent behavior will use it as a new baseline, causing the baseline to continuously sink, ultimately leading to more severe consequences. Precedents have a "legitimizing" demonstration effect.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_OriginatorZH · Explicit
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